Fabrication method of optical disk drive

ABSTRACT

A fabrication method of an optical disk drive is provided. The method adapted for alleviating the eccentric issue of a loaded optical disk. The optical disk drive, for example, includes a turntable having a plurality of engaging springs. The engaging springs are adapted to secure the optical disk through a hole in the center of the optical disk. The steps for fabricating the optical disk drive include the following: first, the eccentric degree of the optical disk caused by the engaging springs is measured. Then a result is obtained. According to the obtained result, material is added to at least one of the engaging springs or a part of original material is removed from at least one of the engaging springs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a fabrication method of an optical diskdrive. In particular, it relates to a fabrication method of an opticaldisk drive which can solve the eccentric issues of optical disk placedon a turntable.

2. Description of Related Art

Because of having advantages of lower price, better portability, largerstorage volume, easier storage, longer storage duration, lower cost, anddata robustness, optical disks have gradually replaced conventionalmagnetic storage medium as an indispensable storage medium. As a resultof the widespread use of the optical disk; therefore, the optical diskdrive for reading optical disks has consequently become popularelectronic products.

FIG. 1 is a schematic three-dimensional exploding view of a conventionaloptical disk drive. The conventional optical disk drive 10 includes ahousing 12, a tray 14, and a read module 16. The housing 12 is adaptedfor receiving and protecting the inner components of the optical diskdrive 10. The tray 14 is disposed in the housing 12 and is adapted forejecting from the housing 12 for carrying an optical disk D.Furthermore, the read module 16, including a turntable 16 a and anoptical read head 16 b, is disposed in the housing 12, and is adaptedfor reading data from the optical disk.

The process of reading data from an optical disk using an optical diskdrive 10 includes the following steps: first, an optical disk D isloaded on the tray 14, and the tray 14 together with the loaded opticaldisk D are slid into the housing 12. A plurality of engaging springs 16c disposed on the turntable 16 a are used to secure the optical disk.And then the turntable 16 a drives the optical disk to rotate at anappropriate velocity, while an optical read head 16 b moves along atracking path for reading data from the optical disk.

Unfortunately, being small and thin, the aforementioned engaging springsare likely to be deformed during fabrication, which may leads toproblems in the eccentric issues of a circle defined by the edges of theengaging springs. Therefore, when an optical disk is supported by aturntable and secured by the engaging springs, the optical disk maybecome eccentric from the center of the turntable. Thus the optical readhead is difficult to read data from the optical disk. And particularlyin a high-speed optical disk drive, the aforementioned eccentric problemeasily leads to failure in reading data from the optical disk.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, an objective of the present invention is forproviding a fabrication method of an optical disk drive, which solvesthe eccentric issue of optical disk loaded in the optical disk drive,and thus improving product quality and saving production cost foroptical disk drive.

According to the aforementioned objective, the present inventionprovides a fabrication method of an optical disk drive, adapted forimproving the eccentric issue of a loaded optical disk. The optical diskdrive, for example, includes a turntable having a plurality of engagingsprings, in which the engaging springs are adapted for securing theoptical disk through a hole in the center of the optical disk. The stepsfor fabricating the optical disk drive include the following: First, theeccentric degree of the optical disk caused by the engaging springs ismeasured, and a result is obtained. Then according to the result,material is added to at least one of the engaging springs, or a part ofthe original material is removed from at least one of the engagingsprings.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the method for obtainingthe aforementioned result, for example, includes the following steps:First, a testing apparatus including a first support unit, a testingplate, and a sensing device is provided, in which the testing plate hasan inner hole and a peripheral region, where the center of the innerhole and the center of the peripheral region are superposed. Then theturntable is secured on the first support unit, and the testing plate issecured on the turntable. The turntable is used to drive the testingplate to rotate. The eccentric degree of the peripheral region relatedto the center of the turntable is measured using the sensing device.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the steps for addingmaterial to an engaging spring includes the following: a material addingdevice is provided and the material is added to at least one engagingspring using the material adding device.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the material added tothe engaging spring can be either the same material or not the samematerial with the original material of the engaging spring.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the steps for removinga part of the original material from an engaging spring includes thefollowing: A second support unit and a material removing device areprovided. Later the turntable is secured on the second support unit.Then the second support unit drives the turntable to rotate. A part ofthe original material of at least one engaging spring is removed usingthe material removing device.

According to the aforementioned objective, the present inventionprovides a fabrication method of an optical disk drive, adapted forimproving the eccentric problem of a loaded optical disk. The opticaldisk drive, for example, includes a turntable having a plurality ofengaging springs, in which the engaging springs are adapted for securingthe optical disk through a center hole of the optical disk. The stepsfor fabricating the optical disk drive include the following: First, theeccentric degree of the optical disk caused by the engaging springs ismeasured and a result is obtained. Then according to the obtainedresult, material is added to at least one of the engaging springs; and apart of the previously added material is removed from at least one ofthe engaging springs.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the method for obtainingthe aforementioned test result, for example, includes the followingsteps: First, a testing apparatus including a first support unit, atesting plate, and a sensing device is provided, in which the testingplate has an inner hole and a peripheral region. The center of the innerhole and the center of the peripheral region are superposed. A turntableis secured on the first support unit. Then the testing plate is securedon the turntable. Then the turntable drives the testing plate to rotate.Later, the eccentric degree of the peripheral region related to thecenter of the turntable is measured using the sensing device.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the steps for addingmaterial to an engaging spring and for removing a part of the previouslyadded material from the engaging spring includes the following: First, asecond support unit, a material adding device, and a material removingdevice are provided. Then material is added to at least one of theengaging spring using the material adding device. A turntable is securedon the second support unit. Later, the second support unit drives theturntable to rotate. Furthermore, a part of previously added material isremoved from the engaging spring using the material removing device.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the material added tothe engaging spring can be either the same or not the same material withthe original material for making the engaging spring.

According to the aforementioned objective, the present inventionprovides an optical disk drive, which is adapted for reading data froman optical disk. The optical disk drive includes a housing, a tray, anda read module. The tray is disposed in the housing and is adapted forejecting from the housing. The read module is adapted for reading datafrom an optical disk. The read module includes a turntable and anoptical read head. The turntable includes a plurality of engagingsprings, in which at least one of the engaging springs include addedmaterial for superposing the center of the optical disk and the centerof the turntable. Furthermore, the optical read head is adapted to movealong a tracking path for reading data from the optical disk.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the material added tothe engaging spring can be either the same or not the same with theoriginal material for the engaging spring.

According to the aforementioned objective, the present inventionprovides an optical disk drive, which is adapted for reading data froman optical disk. The optical disk drive includes a housing, a tray, anda read module. The tray is disposed in the housing and is adapted forejecting from the housing. The read module is adapted for reading datafrom an optical disk. The read module includes a turntable and anoptical read head. The turntable includes a plurality of engagingsprings. At least one of the engaging springs includes a correspondingportion wherein a part of material is removed for superposing the centerof the optical disk and the center of the turntable. Furthermore, theoptical read head is adapted for moving along a tracking path forreading data from the optical disk.

In view of the above, after testing and modification using thefabrication method of an optical disk drive according to the presentinvention, the engaging springs of the turntable makes the center of theoptical disk and the center of the turntable to be superposed.Therefore, when a user is using the optical disk drive, the readingspeed and the reliability of the read data are all largely increased.Also, the fabrication method of an optical disk drive according to theinvention can increase product qualities, thus the production cost isreduced.

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of theinvention and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic exploding perspective view of a conventionaloptical disk drive.

FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram for illustrating a testing apparatushaving a first support unit with no rotating function, according to afirst embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram for illustrating a testing apparatushaving a first support unit with rotating function, according to thefirst embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram for illustrating a process of a materialadding device adding a material to an engaging spring, according to thefirst embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram for illustrating an optical disk driveafter the completion of the steps in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram for illustrating a material removingdevice for removing a part of the original material from the engagingspring, according to the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram for illustrating an optical disk driveafter the completion of the steps in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram for illustrating a material removingdevice for removing a part of the previously added material from theengaging spring, according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram for illustrating an optical disk driveafter the completion of the steps in FIGS. 3A and 5A.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a schematic three-dimensional exploding perspective view of aconventional optical disk drive. Referring to FIG. 1, a conventionaloptical disk drive 10 includes a turntable 16 a having a plurality ofengaging springs 16 c. The engaging spring 16 c is adapted for securingan optical disk D through the hole H in the center of the optical diskD. The centricity of the engaging springs 16 c related to the center ofthe turntable 16 a will influence which of the optical disk D.Therefore, the present invention provides a fabrication method of anoptical disk drive by which the issues of the eccentric problem ofoptical disk can be solved. The fabrication method according to thefirst embodiment includes the following steps: First, the eccentricdegree of the optical disk D caused by the engaging spring 16 c ismeasured and a testing result is obtained. According to the obtainedtest results, material is added to at least one of the engaging springs16 c. Or a part of the original material is removed from at least one ofthe engaging spring 16 c.

Referring to FIG. 2A, it is a schematic diagram illustrating a testingapparatus having a first support unit with no rotating function,according to a first embodiment of the invention. The method forobtaining the testing result includes the following steps: First, atesting apparatus 200 is provided. The testing apparatus 200 includes afirst support unit 210, a testing plate 220, and a sensing device 230,in which the testing plate 220 has an inner hole 222 and a peripheralregion 224. The center of the inner hole 222 and the center of theperipheral region 224 are superposed. In other words, both the innerhole 222 and the peripheral region 224 have perfect roundness, and areconcentric.

Later, a turntable 16 a is secured on the first support unit 210. Thenthe testing plate 220 is secured on the turntable 16 a. The turntable 16a is used to drive the testing plate 220 to rotate. The sensing device230 measures the eccentric degree of the peripheral region 224 relatedto the center of the turntable 16 a which is caused by the eccentricengaging springs.

It should be noted that there are at least two optional approaches forsecuring the turntable 16 a on the first support unit 210. The first isto secure the turntable 16 a together with a motor 18 which is connectedwith the turntable 16 a onto the first support unit 210. Because themotor 18 already has rotating capability; therefore, the first supportunit 210 has the motor 18 secured on it and supplies power to the motor18 to drive the turntable 16 a. FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram forillustrating a testing apparatus having a first support unit withrotating function, according to the first embodiment of the invention.Referring to FIG. 2B, the second approach is to secure the turntable 16a together with a motor rotor 18 a, which is coupled with the turntable16 a onto the first support unit 210. Since there is no relative motionbetween the turntable 16 a and the motor rotor 18 a, the first supportunit 210 has the rotating function for driving the turntable 16 a torotate concurrently with the testing plate 220.

The sensing device 230 may further include a probe. And it measures theaforementioned eccentric degree by touching the peripheral region 224.The sensing device 230 may also measure the aforementioned eccentricdegree by using approaches other than touching the peripheral region224, for example, by using eddy current or infrared rays to measure theeccentric degree (not shown in figures).

Referring to FIG. 3A, it illustrates a process of a material addingdevice which adds material to an engaging spring, according to the firstembodiment of the invention. The steps for adding material to anengaging spring includes the following: First, a material adding device300 is provided. And then material is added to at least one engagingspring 16 c of the turntable 16 a using the material adding device 300.It is to be noted that the material added to the engaging spring 16 ccan be either the same or not the same with the engaging spring 16 c.

FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram for illustrating an optical disk driveafter the completion of steps of FIG. 3A. By referring to FIG. 3B andFIG. 1 together, the optical disk drive 20 is different from theconventional optical disk drive 10 in that at least one engaging spring26 c of the turntable 26 a has an added material M for superposing thecenter of the optical disk D and the center of the turntable 26 a.

FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram for illustrating a material removingdevice for removing a part of raw material from the engaging spring,according to the first embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG.4A, the aforementioned steps for removing a part of the originalmaterial from an engaging spring includes the following: First, a secondsupport unit 400 and a material removing device 500 are provided. Thenthe turntable 16 a is secured on the second support unit 400. Inaddition, the second support unit 400 is made to drive the turntable 16a to rotate. A part of the original material is removed from at leastone engaging spring 16 c using the material removing device 500. Itshould be noted that there are at least two optional approaches forsecuring the turntable 16 a on the second support unit 400, which arerespectively the same as the two approaches for securing the turntable16 a on the first support unit 210 as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram for illustrating an optical disk driveafter completion of the steps of FIG. 4A. Referring to FIG. 4B and FIG.1, the optical disk drive 30 is different from the conventional opticaldisk drive 10 in that the turntable 36 a includes at least one engagingspring 36 c having a corresponding portion P1 wherein a part of materialis removed, and the corresponding portion P1 being adapted for makingthe center of the optical disk D and the center of the turntable 36 abeing superposed.

The Second Embodiment

The fabrication method of an optical disk drive according to the secondembodiment of the invention includes the following steps: First, theeccentric degree of the optical disk D caused by the engaging spring 16c (as shown in FIG. 1) is measured, and a result is obtained.Furthermore, according to the obtained result, material is added to atleast one of the engaging springs 16 c; and then a part of thepreviously added material is removed from at least one of the engagingsprings 16 c.

The method for obtaining the testing result is as illustrated in thefirst embodiment. FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram for illustrating theremoval of a part of a previously added material from the engagingsprings using a material removing device, according to the secondembodiment of the invention. Referring to FIGS. 3A and 5A, the steps foradding material to an engaging spring and for removing a part of thepreviously added material from the engaging springs includes: First, asecond support unit 400, a material adding device 300, and a materialremoving device 500 are provided. Material is then added to at least oneof the engaging springs 16 c using the material adding device 300 toform an engaging spring 16 c′. Later, referring to FIG. 5A, a turntable16 a′ having an engaging spring 16 c′ is secured on the second supportunit 400. Then the second support unit 400 is used to drive theturntable 16 a′ to rotate. A part of the previously added material isremoved from the engaging spring 16 c′ using the material removingdevice 500.

It should be noted that the material added to the engaging spring 16 ccan be either the same or not the same with the original material of theengaging spring 16 c. The method for securing the turntable 16 a′ ontothe second support unit 400 is the same as illustrated in the firstembodiment.

FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram for illustrating an optical disk driveafter completion of steps in FIGS. 3A and 5A. Referring to FIG. 5B, theoptical disk drive 40 is different from the conventional optical diskdrive in that at least one engaging spring 46 c of the turntable 46 aincludes a corresponding portion P2 having a added material wherein apart of which is removed, and the corresponding portion P2 is adapted tomake the center of the optical disk D and the center of the turntable 46a to be superposed.

Finally, it is to be understood that optical disk drives 20, 30, and 40are exemplary for desktop computers. However, the method for fabricationof an optical disk drive according to the invention can also be used forlaptop computers; therefore, the aforementioned embodiments areexemplary as illustration, and not to limit the scope of the invention.

In summary, after testing and modification using the fabrication methodof an optical disk drive according to the present invention, themodified engaging springs of the turntable can make the center of theoptical disk and the center of the turntable to be superposed.Therefore, when a user uses the optical disk drive, the reading speedand the reliability of the read data are all largely increased. Also,the fabrication method of an optical disk drive according to theinvention can increase quality of products, thus the production cost isreduced.

It should be noted that specific embodiments of, and examples for, theinvention are described herein for illustrative purposes, variousequivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention,as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize that modificationsand adaptations of the above-described embodiments of the presentinvention may be made to meet particular requirements. This disclosureis intended to exemplify the invention without limiting its scope. Allmodifications that incorporate the invention disclosed in the preferredembodiment are to be construed as coming within the scope of theappended claims or the range of equivalents to which the claims areentitled.

1. A fabrication method of an optical disk drive, adapted for improvingthe eccentric issue of a loaded optical disk, the optical disk drivecomprises a turntable having a plurality of engaging springs, whereinthe engaging spring is adapted to secure the optical disk through acentral hole of the optical disk, wherein the steps for fabricationmethod of the optical disk drive comprising: measuring the eccentricdegree of the optical disk caused by the engaging springs and obtaininga result; and adding material to at least one of the engaging springs orremoving a part of a original material from at least one of the engagingsprings, according to the obtained result.
 2. The fabrication method ofan optical disk drive according to claim 1, wherein the method forobtaining the test result comprising: providing a testing apparatus,comprising a first support unit, a testing plate, and a sensing device,wherein the testing plate has an inner hole and a peripheral region, andthe center of the inner hole and the center of the peripheral aresuperposed; securing the turntable on the first support unit; securingthe testing plate on the turntable; having the turntable to drive thetesting plate to rotate; and measuring the eccentric degree of theperipheral region related to the center of the turntable using thesensing device.
 3. The fabrication method of an optical disk driveaccording to claim 1, wherein the steps for adding material to theengaging spring comprising: providing a material adding device; andadding material to at least one engaging spring using the materialadding device.
 4. The fabrication method of an optical disk driveaccording to claim 1, wherein the material added to the engaging springis identical with the original material for the engaging spring.
 5. Thefabrication method of an optical disk drive according to claim 1,wherein the material added to the engaging spring is not identical withthe original material for the engaging spring.
 6. The fabrication methodof an optical disk drive according to claim 1, wherein the steps forremoving a part of original material from the engaging springcomprising: providing a second support unit and a material removingdevice; securing the turntable on the second support unit; having thesecond support unit to drive the turntable to rotate; and removing apart of original material from at least one engaging spring using thematerial removing device.
 7. A fabrication method of an optical diskdrive, adapted for improving the eccentric issue of a loaded opticaldisk, the optical disk drive comprises a turntable having a plurality ofengaging springs, wherein the engaging spring is adapted to secure theoptical disk through a central hole of the optical disk, wherein thefabrication method of the optical disk drive comprising: measuring theeccentric degree of the optical disk caused by the engaging springs andobtaining a result; adding material to at least one of the engagingsprings, according to the obtained result; and removing a part of thepreviously added material from the engaging spring.
 8. The fabricationmethod of an optical disk drive according to claim 7, wherein the methodfor obtaining the testing result comprising providing a testingapparatus, which comprising a first support unit, a testing plate, and asensing device, wherein the testing plate has an inner hole and aperipheral region, the center of the inner hole and the center of theperipheral are superposed; securing the turntable on the first supportunit; securing the testing plate on the turntable; having the turntableto drive the testing plate to rotate; and measuring the eccentric degreeof the peripheral region related to the center of the turntable usingthe sensing device.
 9. The fabrication method of an optical disk driveaccording to claim 7, wherein the steps for adding material to theengaging spring and then removing a part of the previously addedmaterial from the engaging spring comprising: providing a second supportunit, a material adding device, and a material removing device; addingmaterial to at least one of the engaging springs using the materialadding device; securing the turntable on the second support unit; havingthe second support unit to drive the turntable to rotate; and removing apart of the previously added material from the engaging spring using thematerial removing device.
 10. The fabrication method of an optical diskdrive according to claim 7, wherein the material added to the engagingspring is identical with the original material for the engaging spring.11. The fabrication method of an optical disk drive according to claim7, wherein the material added to the engaging spring is not identicalwith the original material for the engaging spring.
 12. An optical diskdrive, adapted for reading data from an optical disk, wherein theoptical disk drive comprising: a housing; a tray, disposed in thehousing and adapted for ejecting from the housing; and a read module,disposed in the housing and adapted for reading data from the opticaldisk, wherein the read module comprising: a turntable having a pluralityof engaging springs, wherein at least one of the engaging springscomprises an adding material for superposing the center of the opticaldisk and the center of the turntable; and an optical read head, adaptedfor moving along a tracking path for reading data from the optical disk.13. The optical disk drive according to claim 12, wherein the materialadded to the engaging spring is identical with the original material forthe engaging spring.
 14. The optical disk drive according to claim 12,wherein the material to be added to the engaging spring is not identicalwith the original material for the engaging spring.
 15. An optical diskdrive, adapted for reading data from an optical disk, wherein theoptical disk drive comprising: a housing; a tray, disposed in thehousing and adapted for ejecting from the housing; and a read module,disposed in the housing and adapted for reading data from the opticaldisk wherein the read module comprising: a turntable having a pluralityof engaging springs, wherein at least one of the engaging springscomprises a corresponding portion wherein a part of material is removedfor superposing the center of the optical disk and the center of theturntable; and an optical read head, adapted for moving along a trackingpath for reading data from the optical disk.